MPs call for free-to-air Rugby League World Cup matches Sport Business MPs have called on the government to make matches at the Rugby League World Cup free-to-air and protected for the foreseeable future. This year’s competition, taking place in Australia, is being broadcast behind a paywall on Premier Sports after the BBC declined to cough up to show the tournament. Jon Trickett MP said: “The problem [...]
‘Jobs killer’: Gambling industry lashes out at Healey betting tax raid Sport Business After the Chancellor announced a tax hike for the gambling and betting sector, Saskia Koopman dissected the industry reaction Machine Games Duty (MGD) will rise from 20 to 25 per cent in April 2027, below the 40 per cent demanded by campaigners and some Labour MPs. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) warned that almost [...]
Autumn Budget 2026: Tax hikes will negate boost from hosting Olympic Games Sport Business Tax hikes and regulation announced in Wednesday’s Budget will negate any financial boost from Great Britain hosting the Olympic Games in the 2040s, the UK government has been warned. Chancellor John Healey confirmed in his fiscal statement that a £7m fund would be made available to conduct a “feasibility study for a potential future bid [...]
LA28 Olympics leans into Hollywood heritage with ‘Stars Align’ slogan October 28, 2026 Los Angeles 2028 Olympics organisers have leant into Hollywood heritage by announcing “Stars Align” as the official slogan for the next Summer Games. The tagline is a nod to both the city’s status as a celebrity hotbed and the slogan for the LA 1984 Olympics, “Stars in Motion”, which itself drew on the US flag. [...]
Real Madrid aim to mend Mbappe diplomatic row with grovelling apology to China October 28, 2026 Real Madrid have issued a grovelling apology to “the Chinese people” in a bid to soothe the diplomatic row caused by star Kylian Mbappe’s “dictator” remarks about Mao Zedong. Chinese media have confirmed they are suspending their £20m-a-year broadcast deal with the Spanish league after rejecting apologies from both Mbappe and LaLiga yesterday. Mbappe sparked [...]
Burnley FC crisis deepens as parent company is threatened with liquidation October 28, 2026 Freefalling Burnley FC’s worries have deepened after the club’s parent company, Velocity Capital (UK) Holdings, received a compulsory strike-off notice. The Clarets, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are in the bottom three of the Championship, with just one win from their first 12 games, and currently without a permanent manager. The [...]
West Ham’s London Stadium eyes capacity increase to take fight to Wembley October 28, 2026 London Stadium bosses want to relax seating restrictions for boxing in a bid to rival Wembley for mega fights and offset losses caused by anchor tenant West Ham’s relegation to the Championship. The stadium costs the taxpayer £19m a year after rent was halved following West Ham’s relegation, while stewarding costs have risen because of [...]
Netflix defends Beat Luke Littler line-up after backlash at pros’ inclusion October 27, 2026 Netflix insists that Fallon Sherrock and other faces from the PDC circuit were made to queue up and audition alongside thousands of hopefuls before being selected for its new live show, Beat Luke Littler. The programme has attracted a backlash from darts fans after it was initially billed as a chance for pub players to [...]
Knicks trade publicly as MSG chief Dolan nets $10m pay-out October 27, 2026 The New York Knicks became the first NBA team in nearly two decades to be traded publicly on Tuesday after a spin-out by owners Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. The Big Apple firm created two companies for its two sports franchises – the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers ice hockey team – [...]
Fifa and Infantino at centre of escalating row among Asian football chiefs October 27, 2026 The war of words in Asian football over the future of Fifa president Gianni Infantino has escalated further after regional chiefs turned on critic Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan. Asia has become a key battleground for Infantino as he looks to extend his decade-long tenure at next year’s elections despite a widespread backlash to [...]